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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 22 of 22. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 14, 2005, at 18:43:38
Hi, everyone,
Do you think there would be interest in being able to blog here? I know some posters already do elsewhere...
Bob
Posted by alexandra_k on May 14, 2005, at 20:09:01
In reply to Blogs at Babble, posted by Dr. Bob on May 14, 2005, at 18:43:38
Whats that again???
Posted by Shy_Girl on May 14, 2005, at 20:25:44
In reply to Blogs at Babble, posted by Dr. Bob on May 14, 2005, at 18:43:38
Posted by Phillipa on May 14, 2005, at 21:16:16
In reply to Re: Blogs at Babble » Dr. Bob, posted by alexandra_k on May 14, 2005, at 20:09:01
What is a Blog? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by gardenergirl on May 15, 2005, at 14:17:58
In reply to Re: Blogs at Babble » alexandra_k, posted by Phillipa on May 14, 2005, at 21:16:16
Like a journal or diary that other folks can read online.
"Blogging" has really taken off. Coverage of the election last fall included the thoughts of many "bloggers" with political interests.
gg
Posted by alexandra_k on May 15, 2005, at 14:39:11
In reply to Web log, posted by gardenergirl on May 15, 2005, at 14:17:58
> Like a journal or diary that other folks can read online.
Ah. Thanks for that gg.
Um. Don't we kind of do that already via posting??????
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 15, 2005, at 21:57:41
In reply to Re: Web log » gardenergirl, posted by alexandra_k on May 15, 2005, at 14:39:11
> Um. Don't we kind of do that already via posting??????
Right, so I'm thinking it might be relatively easy to implement...
Bob
Posted by alexandra_k on May 15, 2005, at 22:03:16
In reply to Re: Web log, posted by Dr. Bob on May 15, 2005, at 21:57:41
> Right, so I'm thinking it might be relatively easy to implement...
Hey presto
Done several years ago
:-)
Posted by Minnie-Haha on May 16, 2005, at 14:35:56
In reply to Re: Web log » gardenergirl, posted by alexandra_k on May 15, 2005, at 14:39:11
> > Like a journal or diary that other folks can read online.
>
> Ah. Thanks for that gg.
> Um. Don't we kind of do that already via posting??????The difference being that our posts are dialogues. A blog IS more like a journal or diary. Just one person's observations, ramblings, whatever you want to call them. So you might just want to follow a few of your favorite Babbler's blogs. "Oh... I think I'll follow SLS's blogs. And partlycloudy's" or whoever's writing you like.
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 16, 2005, at 23:30:18
In reply to Re: Web log, posted by Minnie-Haha on May 16, 2005, at 14:35:56
> The difference being that our posts are dialogues. A blog IS more like a journal or diary. Just one person's observations, ramblings, whatever you want to call them.
Don't some blogs allow readers to respond?
Bob
Posted by alexandra_k on May 17, 2005, at 0:10:09
In reply to Re: Web log, posted by Minnie-Haha on May 16, 2005, at 14:35:56
> The difference being that our posts are dialogues. A blog IS more like a journal or diary. Just one person's observations, ramblings, whatever you want to call them.
...And some of my threads turn out to be my obervations, ramblings etc.
Posted by Dinah on May 17, 2005, at 7:02:33
In reply to Re: Web log, posted by Dr. Bob on May 16, 2005, at 23:30:18
I just don't understand why, I'm afraid.
Can you go more into the differences between that and posting?
I have no real objections, I just don't get the purpose.
I guess maybe I'm too old. :)
Posted by Minnie-Haha on May 17, 2005, at 20:12:38
In reply to Re: Web log, posted by Dr. Bob on May 16, 2005, at 23:30:18
> Don't some blogs allow readers to respond?
>
> BobHadn't occurred to me, but I suppose so. All the ones I've read have not had that option, as far as I could see.
Posted by Minnie-Haha on May 17, 2005, at 20:39:13
In reply to Re: Web log » Minnie-Haha, posted by alexandra_k on May 17, 2005, at 0:10:09
> > The difference being that our posts are dialogues. A blog IS more like a journal or diary. Just one person's observations, ramblings, whatever you want to call them.
>
> ...And some of my threads turn out to be my obervations, ramblings etc.Well, if Dr. Bob is right (and I've no reason to believe he isn't) then you're right: bloggin here wouldn't be much different than just starting threads and posting. Maybe the difference would be comments would only be linked to the blogger? Whereas on the other hand, here on PB I may start a post and others might respond to my post, but then others yet might post to those posts and soon the topic veers off in another direction. I don't know... is that right Dr. Bob?
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 18, 2005, at 1:14:42
In reply to Re: Web log alexandra_k Dr. Bob?, posted by Minnie-Haha on May 17, 2005, at 20:39:13
> Maybe the difference would be comments would only be linked to the blogger? Whereas on the other hand, here on PB I may start a post and others might respond to my post, but then others yet might post to those posts and soon the topic veers off in another direction.
Maybe the biggest difference would be that the entries in the blog would be intended as a series, while there isn't necessarily much continuity from one thread a poster starts to the next?
Either way, there's no predicting responses!
Do any of you blog or follow blogs?
Bob
Posted by rubenstein on May 18, 2005, at 17:31:34
In reply to Re: differences, posted by Dr. Bob on May 18, 2005, at 1:14:42
> > Maybe the difference would be comments would only be linked to the blogger? Whereas on the other hand, here on PB I may start a post and others might respond to my post, but then others yet might post to those posts and soon the topic veers off in another direction.
>
> Maybe the biggest difference would be that the entries in the blog would be intended as a series, while there isn't necessarily much continuity from one thread a poster starts to the next?
>
> Either way, there's no predicting responses!
>
> Do any of you blog or follow blogs?
>
> BobI blog and find it extremely helpful in my recovery. I think it is a good idea, although content really couldn't be controlled??
Rubenstein
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 19, 2005, at 4:05:24
In reply to Re: differences, posted by rubenstein on May 18, 2005, at 17:31:34
> I blog and find it extremely helpful in my recovery. I think it is a good idea, although content really couldn't be controlled??
Would it be important to control the content? Other than keeping it civil? :-)
Bob
Posted by thuso on May 25, 2005, at 17:58:06
In reply to Re: differences, posted by Dr. Bob on May 18, 2005, at 1:14:42
> > Maybe the difference would be comments would only be linked to the blogger? Whereas on the other hand, here on PB I may start a post and others might respond to my post, but then others yet might post to those posts and soon the topic veers off in another direction.
>
> Maybe the biggest difference would be that the entries in the blog would be intended as a series, while there isn't necessarily much continuity from one thread a poster starts to the next?
>
> Either way, there's no predicting responses!
>
> Do any of you blog or follow blogs?
>
> BobWhat a way to introduce myself and do a first post! ;-D I thought I'd jump in here and give you guys my experience with blogging. I've been doing it for a few years now.
Blogs are a great thing...if you update them. I've found it to be a great way to get support from people you know...even if they're only acquaintances. Every blog site that I know of allows users to comment. And most of them also allow a blogger to make their posts private or public. If they are private, only the usernames they specify can see the post. I usually do that when I want to write something personal that I only want my closest friends to read. Allowing the user the option of making any of their posts private would allow them to use this site's blog feature as more of a private journal. Since you already allow a user to save information on that Babblemeter, this could be linked to that as another way to track their progress. It would just be up to the user.
This is a great idea on a site like this. If you want to see an example of my blog or some other good blogging sites let me know and I'll email you the links. My blog is already out there for the world to read and it doesn't give any private info about me, so it's no big deal sharing it. There are a million ways you could do this and looking at how others have already done it may help you. I've got enough experience doing my own blogs and reading others, that I'm sure I can help you with ideas.
And in terms of the whole content control...all you have to do is add a button that says something like, "report post to admin". I doubt it would be used often and it would quickly alert those in charge of a possible content violation. They can then make the determination on if the post is ok.
Well...now that I've made my big entrance on here, I look forward to conversing with all of you. :-)
Posted by so on May 25, 2005, at 21:11:10
In reply to Re: differences » Dr. Bob, posted by thuso on May 25, 2005, at 17:58:06
are we cousins? just asking because of the name.
I can offer some counterpoint to that -- web logs have been a source of valuable information in some circumstances, but that doesn't make them all useful for all circumstances. I read yesterday an article representing the leading advocacy group for protection of children in the net environment that said slightly more than half of the world's now 38 million supposed blogs are operated by teens, and primarily by female teens. (I say supposed because I'm not sure which self-published web sites they defined as blogs.) The major concern there was potentially exploitive activity arising from too much self-disclosure by young people. The group cited four youths who were murdered by people they met on-line. But elsewhere, I read that blogs first appeared to be a useful new trend but soon became a venue widely used to announce one's own importance. I've seen some outright libel of strictly private individuals in some blogs that might stand probably because the subject doesn't know they were targeted, and because the self-appointed blog publishers have no background in libel law and might not know the difference between a private person and a public figure. I've seen blog posts that seem to be invasions of privacy, too. Of course, that's nothing new -- been that way for thousands of years, no doubt.Otherwise, blogs aren't all that new -- it's just a new word for a particular form of content management software that provides for easy updating and replies. In general, they give more editorial control to the site owner than do threaded message boards.
As you say, some are members-read-only, and some groups use the software to let any member post a new article, but in general, they are an evoluton of what were called 'zines the last time a presidential election drove a wave of news stories about the latest on-line self-published media. And before there were 'zines there were newsgroups, and before that e-mail lists -- its an emerging concept, as you likely know from having been involved for several years.
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 26, 2005, at 0:24:32
In reply to Re: differences » Dr. Bob, posted by thuso on May 25, 2005, at 17:58:06
> most of them also allow a blogger to make their posts private
I think that would take a lot of work here, so there might be a wait for that feature... :-)
> There are a million ways you could do this and looking at how others have already done it may help you. I've got enough experience doing my own blogs and reading others, that I'm sure I can help you with ideas.
Thanks, I'm not very familiar with them myself. A couple questions to start:
1. What if the entries were in chronological order, like the posts here? Reverse chronological seems to be more common in blogs...
2. Would being able to display graphics (and not just link to them) be important?
Bob
Posted by thuso on May 26, 2005, at 10:06:25
In reply to Re: differences, posted by Dr. Bob on May 26, 2005, at 0:24:32
> > most of them also allow a blogger to make their posts private
>
> I think that would take a lot of work here, so there might be a wait for that feature... :-)I really don't know how much work it would take. I doubt it will take too much extra coding, but I guess making sure everything works correctly would be a good first step. :-) Besides, people seem to get really excited when new features are announced, so holding off on the private thing might be a great way to reintroduce the blog feature after it's innitial excitement dies down. It's always fun to have some surprises up your sleeve. ;-)
> Thanks, I'm not very familiar with them myself. A couple questions to start:
>
> 1. What if the entries were in chronological order, like the posts here? Reverse chronological seems to be >more common in blogs...I guess you could do it anyway you want to. It is your website! haha! People here are used to chronological order, so I don't see why it wouldn't work well. I personally prefer the reverse chronological order. Every forum, blog, and email I use does it this way. It's sooooo much easier than having to scroll all the way down to the bottom to see if there is anything new. It's more of a convenience and probably my laziness that causes me to prefer reverse chronological order. You could always do a survey to see what people prefer.
> 2. Would being able to display graphics (and not just link to them) be important?
Definitely! I wouldn't let people upload pictures to your server though. It would end up taking a lot of space. The way I've seen most blogs work is that they allow you to do an <imr src> command to link to a picture. Otherwise, they offer a small fee to store pictures/graphics on their server. There are so many free sites to upload pictures to, there is no reason for that. But a definite must are graphical smilies. Those would be very simple to add to your blog code. I couldn't imagine writing something without being able to show graphically if I'm joking, sad, angry, etc. The typical :-) :-D ;-) :-O just aren't adequate for my type of writing. If I don't use a lot of smilies or graphics, my stuff gets misinterpreted a lot of the time. The smilies are life savers.
I still think this is a great idea. I've tried a couple of those computer journaling programs, but I'm never home to write. That's why I love blogging. I can write stuff whenever I'm near a computer. I really hope you end up doing this or something similar. If you have any other questions, just ask. I will try my best to never run out of answers or opinions. hahaha! :-)
Posted by Phillipa on May 26, 2005, at 18:15:53
In reply to Re: differences, posted by Dr. Bob on May 26, 2005, at 0:24:32
Oh I get it now! After my facelift I went to a site where people were posting their experiences. They would list let's say Day 5 and what happened, etc. Then you could click on and see pictures of their postop surgery from day l through the present. Now I understand what blogging is. Fondly, Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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